Hand sanding tool

ABSTRACT

A hand sanding tool that has a strip of material secured to a frame and spanning across an open gap of the frame. The strip of material has an abrasive surface for sanding objects and a spring force applies tension to the strip. The spring force maybe a resiliently flexible frame or a separate spring element anchoring the strip to the frame. Quick connect-quick release connectors connect the strip to the frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates generally to hand tools and moreparticularly to a hand tool for sanding an object.

[0003] 2. Background Information

[0004] There are a variety of hand tools for sanding that include aframe and means thereon for detachably connecting thereto a strip orsheet, or a portion of a sheet, of material having an abrasive coatingon one face thereof. The known tools have a base plate that serves as abacking for the sheet of abrasive material and such base plate in someinstances is rigid while in others it is flexible. Also in someinstances the base plate is flat while in others it is curved.

[0005] Hand tools are also known that consist of a C-shaped frame with acutting element detachably secured thereto and wherein the cuttingelement spans across the bite of the C-shaped frame. Examples of suchknown tools are hack saws, bow saws and coping saws. These well knowntools include means to adjust the tension of the cutting element whichin most instances is in the form of a blade with saw teeth on one edgethereof. In some instances the cutting element is in the form of acylindrical rod with cutting formations around the outer periphery butin all instances considerable tension is applied to the cutting element.

[0006] Power sanders are known that include an endless belt running onspaced apart pulleys and with a free span between two pulleys, (orequivalent support) that is used to sand an object. In machines of thistype the work piece must be brought to the tool and this is not alwaysconvenient and many times not even possible.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0007] The present invention is to provide a hack saw type frame withadapters detachably anchoring thereto a strip of material havingabrasive material on a face thereof and spring means to tension thestrip.

[0008] In keeping with the forgoing there is provided in accordance withone aspect of the present invention a hand tool comprising a framehaving a free open gap in a selected portion thereof, a strip ofmaterial having an abrasive surface, means anchoring the strip to theframe at first and second positions located respectively on oppositesides of the open gap whereby the strip has a free length spanningacross the gap. Included are means on the frame for resiliently applyingtension to the strip extending between the first and second positions.The tension applying means may be the frame, means for biasing such as acoiled spring or flexible longitudinal member incorporated in the frame,or be a separate spring element in cooperative engagement with ends ofthe frame.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a hand tool forsanding in which there is a frame having an open bite portion and meanson the frame detachably anchoring a strip of abrasive material to theframe with the strip positioned to span the open bite.

[0010] A further object of the present invention is to provide a handtool of the forgoing type that includes means to resiliently applytension to the strip of abrasive material attached thereto.

[0011] A further object of the present invention is to provide a handtool of the forgoing type and wherein the frame has a resilientlyflexible portion that tensions the strip spanning the open bite portionof the frame.

[0012] A further object of the present invention is to provide a handtool that has a frame with an open gap, means on the frame and locatedon respective opposite sides of the gap to detachably anchor a strip ofabrasive material to the frame at respective first and second positionsspaced apart from one another longitudinally along the strip and meansto resiliently apply tension to the strip extending from one to theother of the strip anchoring means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] A better understanding of the present invention will be had uponreference to the following description in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like partsthroughout the several views and wherein:

[0014]FIG. 1 is an oblique view of a hand tool provided in accordancewith the present invention for sanding;

[0015]FIG. 2 is an oblique view of one of the strip anchoring meansshown in FIG. 1 but on a larger scale;

[0016]FIG. 3 is an oblique view of the hand tool with alternative meansfor anchoring the strip to the frame and permitting using a roll of thestrip material;

[0017]FIG. 4 is an oblique view of one end of the frame illustratingmeans of anchoring the strip of abrasive material to the flexible frameof FIGS. 1 and 3;

[0018]FIG. 5 is an oblique view of one end of the frame illustratingmeans of anchoring the strip of abrasive material to the flexible frameof FIGS. 1 and 3;

[0019]FIG. 6 is an oblique view of one end of the frame illustratingmeans of anchoring the strip of abrasive material to the flexible frameof FIGS. 1 and 3;

[0020]FIG. 7 is an oblique view of one end of the frame illustratingmeans of anchoring the strip of abrasive material to the flexible frameof FIGS. 1 and 3;

[0021]FIG. 8 is side elevational view of a hacksaw type frame with apair of adapters connecting a strip of abrasive material thereto andspring means resiliently tensioning said strip; and

[0022]FIG. 9 is an oblique view of one of the pair of adapters shown inFIG. 8 but on a larger scale.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3 there is illustrated a hand tool forsanding objects and comprises a frame 10 having a strip 20 of material,with an abrasive material on a face thereof, detachably anchored to theframe by a pair of spaced apart anchoring means 30 and 40.

[0024] The frame 10 has a toe end designated 11 and a heel enddesignated 12. At the toe end of the frame there is a reversely bentportion 13 that has an inner and an outer surface designatedrespectively 13A and 13B. At the heel 12 of the frame there is areversely bent portion 15 that terminates in an inner end portion 17.The heel portion of the frame provides a handle.

[0025] The toe and heel defining portions of the frame areinterconnected by an arched portion 18 that is resiliently flexibleunder hand pressure. The frame 10 has an open gap 19 between the pair ofstrip anchoring means 30 and 40 that is spanned by the strip 20 and theresiliency of the frame applies tension to this free span of the strip.The strip for example maybe a strip of sand paper, emery cloth or thelike.

[0026] The strip anchoring means 30 and 40 in FIG. 1 are the of the sameconstruction differing only in their location on the frame and furtherconstructional details of the same can be seen in FIG. 2. Referring toFIG. 2 the anchoring means has a base 31, an L-shaped gripping element32 and a lever arm 35. The gripping element 32 is pivotally connected atone end thereof by suitable means as at 33 to the base 31 and terminatesat the other end in a serrated edge 34 that engages the strip 20. Thelever arm 35 is pivotally mounted on the base as at 36 and has an endportion 37 that engages the member 32 to selectively engage and releasethe strip 20 and, in an over-center action, locks the gripping elementon the strip. The base 31 is secured to the frame as by bolts, rivetsand/or welding.

[0027] Referring to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 the strip of material20 is dispensed from a roll 21 of the same through a wedge typeanchoring means 30A and it is anchored at the other end by another wedgeanchoring means 40A of the same construction but located adjacent theheel portion of the hand tool. In this embodiment the strip 20 abutsagainst the lower face 13B of the frame and can be used for sandingwhere more pressure maybe applied during sanding than is possible withthe free unsupported length of the strip. The free unsupported length isparticularly useful for sanding the surface of round or rounded objects.

[0028] Each anchor 30A and 40A has a wedge 41 located in a gap betweenthe frame and a rod (or roller) 42 attached to the frame. The wedge isreciprocally movable along the frame from one position to another torespectively clamp the strip to the frame and release the same with thestrip disposed between the wedge and the frame. The wedge is heldcaptive between the frame and the rod 42 by an enlargement 43 at theapex of the wedge. This enlargement 43 can also be used, as shown inFIG. 6, to locate the sanding face of the strip in a plane offset fromthe face 13B of the frame to avoid having the frame striking the workpiece and damaging the same during use.

[0029] The strip anchoring means illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6 utilize areciprocally movable wedge to clamp the strip onto the frame. In theembodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 the wedge is fixed to the frame andanchoring is effected by a closed loop around the frame and moveablerelative thereto along a length portion of the wedge. Referring to FIG.4 there is illustrated an anchoring means 30B adjacent the toe end ofthe frame and includes a wedge 44 fixed to the frame and located on theinner surface thereof opposite the surface 13A and a closed loop 45 thatencircles the frame portion that has the wedge fixed thereto. The loopis movable along the frame releasably locking the strip, located in thegap between the loop and the frame, to the frame. In FIG. 5 a wedge 44,for the anchoring means designated 40B, is fixed to the handle portion15 of the frame and a closed loop 45 encircles that portion of the frameand the wedge 44 secured thereto.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 7 there is illustrated a strip anchoring means30C mounted on the frame portion 13 and in which a roller 42 hasopposite ends thereof slidable in slots 47 and 48 in respective ones ofa spaced apart pair of lugs 49 secured to and projecting from the frame.The slots slope relative to the flat planar surface of the frameadjacent thereto and disposed there between. If desired a rod 50 can besecured at opposite ends thereof to the spaced apart pair of lugs 49.The rod 50 is so located as to hold the strip 20 in a plane offset fromthe lower face 13B of the frame leg portion 13. The roller 42 beingmovable in the cam slots 47,48 releasably locks the strip 20 to theframe.

[0031] It will be readily apparent the various illustrated strip lockingmeans maybe used in pairs of the same construction or in variouscombinations of the different constructions illustrated or theirmechanical equivalents to anchor opposite ends of the abrasive strip 20to the frame. In the forgoing embodiment the resiliency of the frameapplies tension to the strip and thus the locking means are biased, whenin their locking position, to maintain their locking function.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 8 there is illustrated a frame 60 that has apair of spaced apart pins 61 and 62 thereon and a strip 70 of abrasivematerial anchored at opposite ends thereof to the frame by a pair ofconnectors 80. Each connector 80 comprises a plate having therein aspaced apart pair of parallel slots 81, 82 and a closed loop 83 thatpasses through a hole 84 in the plate. The closed loop engages one ofthe pins 61, 62 that is associated therewith. The pin 62 is located in alever arm 63 that is pivotally attached to the frame by a pin 64. A leafspring 65 is fixedly secured to and projects from the lever arm 63. Thisleaf spring 65 provides means of resiliently tensioning the strip ofabrasive material for sanding. A threaded stud 66 projects through ahole in the leaf spring and threads into a threaded bore in the handleof the frame thereby provides means to adjustably vary the tension ofthe strip. The frame 60 is the same as a conventional well known hacksaw frame differing therefrom in the leaf spring 65 (or mechanicalequivalent thereof) that resiliently applies tension to the strip 20.The stud 66 has a head end provided with wings 67 for fingermanipulation of the stud. A compression coil spring (not shown) can, ifdesired, be placed on the stud 66 between the head thereof and the leafspring and used in association with the leaf spring or in place thereofin which case the leaf spring 65 could be replaced by a rigid member.

[0033] The strip 70 of abrasive material is threaded through the slots81 and 82 and thereby is detachably and adjustably anchored to the platewhich in turn is detachably connected to the frame by a loop 83 (ormechanical equivalent thereof).

[0034] All of the forgoing connectors that connect the strip to theframe are a quick connect-quick release connectors.

[0035] The foregoing detailed description is given primarily forclearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to beunderstood therefrom, for modifications will become obvious to thoseskilled in the art based upon more recent disclosures and may be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of theappended claims.

I claim:
 1. A hand sanding tool comprising a frame having a free opengap in a selected portion thereof, a flat strip of material having aface with an abrasive surface for use in sanding objects, meansanchoring said strip of material to said frame at first and secondpositions spaced apart longitudinally along the strip and disposedrespectively on opposite sides of said open gap and means resilientlyapplying tension to the strip extending between said strip anchoringmeans at said first and second positions.
 2. The hand sanding tool asdefined in claim 1 wherein said strip anchoring means is detachablyconnected to said frame.
 3. The hand sanding tool as defined in claim 1wherein said frame is a bow type frame having a toe portion, a heelportion and a central portion interconnecting said heel and toe portionsand wherein said central portion is resiliently flexible therebyproviding said means tensioning said strip.
 4. A hand sanding tool asdefined in claim 1 wherein said strip anchoring means located at leastone of said first and second positions comprises a clasp mounted on saidframe and including means releasably retaining said clasp locked in aclosed strip engaging position.
 5. The hand sanding tool as defined inclaim 1 wherein said strip anchoring means located at at least one ofsaid first and second positions comprises a wedge and a rod mounted onsaid frame and together providing a gap through which a portion of saidstrip passes.
 6. The hand sanding tool as defined in claim 5 whereinsaid wedge is reciprocally movable along a selected length portion ofsaid frame.
 7. The hand sanding tool as defined in claim 6 includingmeans retaining said wedge captive and limiting reciprocal movement ofthe same.
 8. The hand sanding tool as defined in claim 7 wherein saidretaining means comprises an enlargement located on an apex portion ofthe wedge.
 9. The hand sanding tool as defined in claim 5 wherein saidwedge is fixed to said frame and wherein said rod comprises a portion ofa member that circumscribes a portion of the wedge and the portion ofthe frame associated therewith.
 10. The hand sanding tool as defined inclaim 1 wherein said frame is generally C-shaped.
 11. The hand sandingtool as defined in claim 1 including means adjustably to vary thetension of said strip spanning between said first and second positions.12. The hand sanding tool as defined in claim 1 wherein said stripanchoring means located at least one of said first and second positionscomprises a plate having a spaced apart pair of parallel slots thereinand through which a portion of the strip is threaded and means attachingsaid plate to said frame.
 13. The hand sanding tool as defined in claim12 wherein said means attaching said plate to said frame comprises aring.
 14. A hand sanding tool as defined in claim 3 wherein said framehas a reversely bent portion that extends rearwardly in a direction fromsaid toe portion toward said heel portion of the frame, said rearwardlyextending portion having an outer face and wherein a selected lengthportion of said strip abuts against said outer face.
 15. A hand sandingtool comprising a bow type frame proving an open gap, a strip ofmaterial having an abrasive surface for sanding and means attaching saidstrip to said frame at respective first and second positions spacedapart from one another longitudinally along said strip with said striphaving a free unsupported span extending across said open gap, saidattaching means comprising a plate located at each of said first andsecond positions and having a pair of parallel spaced apart slotsthrough which the strip is threaded, means connecting the plates to theframe and which includes means to adjustably vary the tension of saidfree span of the strip.